Abstracts

Statistical Parametric Mapping in the Analysis of Ictal SPECT Scans.

Abstract number : 1.224
Submission category :
Year : 2001
Submission ID : 909
Source : www.aesnet.org
Presentation date : 12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date : Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM

Authors :
R.C. Knowlton, MD, Neurology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL; N. Lawn, MD, Neurology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Brimingham, AL; R.E. Faught, MD, Neurology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL;

RATIONALE: The objective analysis and reliable interpretation of cerebral blood flow changes measured by ictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is often difficult. Subtraction of ictal from interictal scans may aid analysis but this requires the expense and radioactive exposure of a second scan. The aim of this work was to determine the utility of statistical parametric mapping (SPM) to analyze ictal SPECT scans.
METHODS: We used a set of 13 coregistered age-matched control scans to create a normal atlas against which measure of changes for individual patient ictal scans could be compared. SPM 95 was used in the image processing environment of MEDx 3.3[tm] on a Unix based workstation (Octane, SGI; Palo Alto, CA). The normal controls and patient scans and were coregistered using the non-linear registration algorithms in AIR 3.0[copy].
RESULTS: In eight of nine patient scans significant increased blood flow concordant with clinically elecrographically suspected seizure onset was detected. Typical findings also included the detection of contralateral cerebellar ipsilateral basal ganglia blood flow increase as is expected in ictal SPECT scans in patients with extratemporal lobe epilepsy.[tm]
CONCLUSIONS: SPM analysis of ictal SPECT scans is feasible and may be adequate for optimal analysis without an interical scan for comparison of blood flow changes.
Support: National Epifellows Foundation Grant: NL